Replica: Charles Darwin Bust

The Story:Charles Robert Darwin was born in 1809. Fifty years later he published his groundbreaking book On the Origin of Species, which would forever change the way the biological sciences would be understood and studied. His works and discoveries have inspired scientists to speak freely and seek out the truth and to continue to his research into the future.

One hundred years after Darwin's birth and fifty years after the aforementioned publication, the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) celebrated by unveiling a bronze bust of Charles Darwin as a gift to the American Museum of Natural History.

The bronze bust was sculpted by William Couper, who worked from photographs of Darwin around the time he published On the Origin of Species, and given a home in the newly dedicated Darwin Hall of Invertebrate Zoology within the Museum. Today the original bronze resides in the New York Academy of Sciences office in New York City.

In 2009, one hundred years after the original bronze was created, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) commissioned a reproduction of the bronze to commemorate the bicentennial of Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his most famous work. However, while the NYAS was more than willing to allow for the recreation, they were not willing to let the rare statue leave their facility where it could possibly be damaged in the process.return to full slide show

The Challenge:John Milner & Associates was contracted to have an exact replica of the original bronze bust made without removing it from its pedestal at the New York Academy of Sciences. return to full slide showThe Solution:

3D scan the original bronze on-site at the New York Academy of Sciences Facility

Process the data to create an accurate, high resolution 3D digital model

Direct Dimensions contracted the creation of milled foam replica

Direct Dimensions contracted an artist to do final clay finishing on the replica.